Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
A famous speech from Shakespeare's As You Like It describes the "seven ages" of life ending "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." But that prediction doesn't have to prove entirely true. Modern family dentistry may not be able to do much about your hairline, but it can certainly help you keep a full set of healthy teeth throughout all seven of those ages. Take a look at how the right family dentist can play a hugely important role in your loved ones' lives -- from the youngest to the oldest.
Childhood
Yes, babies are born without teeth -- but that doesn't mean they don't need a good family dentist. Once those baby teeth start growing in, they're immediately vulnerable to sugary drinks, thumb sucking, and other potential threats. Your family dentist can tell you when to schedule that all-important first checkup while also giving you important tips on which foods nourish teeth as opposed to damaging them.
Baby teeth eventually give way to permanent teeth -- or at least they're supposed to. If a baby tooth refuses to fall out, it can interfere with the correct eruption and alignment of the permanent teeth, possibly even causing your child to sport two teeth in the same spot! Your family dentist will watch these issues closely to determine whether the offending baby tooth needs to be extracted.
The Teenage Years
Adolescence brings many physical changes, including changes inside the mouth. Crooked teeth or malocclusions (bite misalignments) will cause serious issues in adulthood if they aren't corrected now. Your family dentist can advise you as to whether your teenager needs braces. Fortunately, modern options such as "invisible" braces, braces available in fashionable colors, and removable tooth aligners can go a long way toward removing feelings of self-consciousness -- even as the braces themselves result in a beautifully straight smile.
Wisdom teeth are another issue associated with the teenage years. These unwanted "extra" molars typically erupt around the age of 18 (if they decide to erupt at all), and in many cases they grow in at an angle that causes pain and threatens the health of surrounding teeth. Your family dentist can ease or even prevent that discomfort by extracting the wisdom teeth, a common oral surgery procedure.
Adulthood
If you've made it into full adulthood with all your teeth, your family dentist is obviously doing a good job! But you can't relax about your dental care just yet. Teeth tend to weaken and wear down over many years of use, and cracks or other breakage can develop. Old fillings can loosen and fall out, and these need to replaced with fresh ones. Periodontal disease can invade the gums and tooth roots, even if you practice good dental hygiene, leading to infections that require root canal work and/or crowns. Your family dentist can take care of all these issues as they come up, while preventing other through regular professional cleanings and checkups.
Adult eating and drinking habits can also be hard on the tooth enamel. Alcoholic beverages dry out the mouth, robbing the enamel of protective saliva and exposing to acids. Coffee and other "grown-up" drinks can stain or etch away the enamel. Your family dentist can get rid of the discoloration by using intense whitening procedures. Take these opportunities to ask about dietary changes that help you preserve your tooth enamel.
The Golden Years
Contrary to popular belief, there's no rule that you have to spend your golden years gumming your food. Regular dental care can usually keep your teeth viable for the rest of your life. Accidents happen, of course, and you might find yourself losing one or more teeth to an injury or health condition. Fortunately, modern dentistry is better equipped than ever to provide you with tooth replacement options. These may include:
As you can see, your trusted family dentist is a true friend through the years and decades, serving you and your family at all stages of life. So once you've found that perfect clinic for your needs, put it to good use by keeping those dental appointments! For more information, visit a website like http://www.nwidentist.com/.
Share6 April 2015
